LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The family of a young girl is thankful for a contractor who dropped his work to save her from being raped.

Albert Smith was working in a Mid-City apartment building in the 1900 block of Harcourt Avenue around 2 p.m. Sunday when he heard screams. Looking out the window from the second floor, he saw a man holding a hatchet and struggling with a girl.

Smith says he ran downstairs and, with the victim’s brother and sister, chased after the suspect. The victim’s mother also tried to give chase in her car, but it wouldn’t start, Smith said.

After outrunning the girl’s siblings, Smith says he was able to point the suspect out to police with the help of three witnesses.

The girl did not know her attacker.

Smith said the girl’s family was so thankful for his help, they bought him a cold beer.

Los Angeles police say a suspect was taken into custody in connection with the attack, but the suspect’s information was not made available.